ecently renovated, the new headquarters for Barber Martin Advertising.
Class Notes Birck Turnbull ‘83 & Charles Bice ‘83 The vibe is “both experiential and functional,” said Birck Turnbull ’83, who has partnered with Charles Bice ’83 in 10 Scott’s Addition buildings, including Gather and Richmond Wine Station on West Broad Street. He describes creative and cutting-edge technology companies dominating the neighborhood with workforces weighted toward millennials. Birck, who is a senior vice president at Cushman & Wakefield/Thalhimer, identifies the properties for acquisition and navigates financing and tenant procurement. Charles, owner of KB Building Services, serves as general contractor, handling all architectural/design/construction work, making sure the space is designed and renovated to client specifications. In the early years, the StC classmates bought several bank-owned properties, industrial spaces not suited for modern-day industrial needs due to lower ceilings, columns and loading limitations. Birck and Charles have repositioned five properties independently and five in conjunction with partners. Craft beer-centric tenants include Isley Brewing, Veil Brewing Co. and Three Notch’d Brewing, with a fourth brewery/restaurant/arcade to go in the former Bingo Hall on West Broad Street near the Boulevard. Partners involved in the former Bingo Hall project include Ted Ukrop ’83 and Richmond restaurateurs Jason Alley and Jay Bayer. Charles and Birck also created a Scott’s Addition home for Health Warrior, maker of “superfood” energy and protein bars, where alum Austin Harris ‘00 serves as chief financial officer.
Taylor Williams ’96 Taylor Williams ’96 is also on a roll in Scott’s Addition, with two completed projects and a third in the works. His company, Spy Rock Real Estate Group, founded nine years ago with partner Andrew Basham, first developed the Preserve at Scott’s Addition, which includes 194 apartments and 2,500 square feet of office space. A second project joined forces with John Neal ’98’s family, who owned a warehouse in Scott’s Addition for their company, Symbol Mattress. The warehouse was torn down to make way for a 60,000-square-foot office building, which includes the restaurant Brenner Pass, along with 202 apartments. Last year, Spy Rock acquired an 86,000-square-foot food distribution warehouse, the Dori Foods Industrial Building, on four acres, which will continue to operate there for the foreseeable future. Spy Rock is eyeing two other mixed-use projects in the area. “We love the city of Richmond,” Taylor said. “We feel it’s growing faster than it ever has and are optimistic about the future of Richmond in general.”
Rob Long ‘06 Anticipation is mounting for Rob Long ‘06’s high-end boutique bowling alley slated to open in April. The $5 million River City Roll occupies a two-acre plot between the Boulevard and the Cookie Factory Lofts and is part of the Scott’s Addition Boulevard Association. The 25,000-squarefoot facility will include 150 parking spaces, 20 lanes, high-end food and beverage, shuffleboard, Skee-Ball, live music, an outdoor fire pit and 12 taps highlighting local breweries. A 4,700-pound pizza oven was delivered and put in place before the walls went up. “Growing up I had never heard of Scott’s Addition, but now that I live there I only leave for squash practice,” said Long, a former investment banker with BB&T Capital Markets. “The area has such a strong food and beverage scene, and we hope River City Roll will add a needed group entertainment option. The potential for this part of Richmond is limitless.”
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